Introduction
Are you a caring, conversational person who enjoys creating community? In this volunteer role you’ll help to create a friendly, relaxed atmosphere in a community clinic for lower leg wounds, breaking down social isolation and reassuring those who are anxious.
What you can expect to gain from volunteering in this role:
- New understandings of health and community
- Experience of a care setting
- Social connection due to meeting a range of new people and health professionals, and working as part of a team.
- The satisfaction of giving support and breaking social isolation.
- Ongoing support from Age UK Bristol staff.
- Support from our Friends Ageing Better (FAB) network to develop knowledge of local community activities.
- Induction training and further training opportunities to help you carry out the role.
- Expenses related to the role (such as travel) covered by Age UK Bristol.
- Occasional social events for Age UK Bristol volunteers.
- Appreciation for your work.
What we’re looking for in a volunteer:
- Availability on either a Thursday morning (8:45am to12:30pm) or Thursday afternoon (1:30pm to 4:15pm)
- Ability to attend our South Bristol venue, the Withywood Centre.
- Ability to be welcoming and friendly.
- Ability to communicate well with a diverse range of people.
- Ability to carry out basic admin.
- Ability to work cooperatively in a busy community setting.
- An understanding of the needs of older people.
- Willingness to follow Age UK Bristol’s policies, such as Confidentiality, Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities
About the Community Clinic for Lower Leg Wounds (known as the Leg Clinic)
The Leg Clinic is for people who need a regular dressing of a lower leg wound. It is based on a forward-thinking model which brings together nurses from local GP surgeries to work in a non-medical community venue. Those who attend are welcomed into the space by Age UK Bristol’s staff and volunteers, who facilitate social connection and support attendees both before and after treatment with hot drinks and conversation. Due to the stigma and mobility issues related to lower leg wounds, some people who attend have little social contact during the week, and the Leg Clinic is vital in breaking down social isolation.
The role involves the following tasks:
- Meeting and greeting people who attend the clinic. Welcoming and orientating new patients. Chatting with patients while they wait to be seen by nurse. Reassuring those who may be anxious.
- Collaborating with the clinic’s nurses and Age UK Bristol staff.
- Keeping sign-in sheets for attendees and ensuring they are seen in time order.
- Setting up and packing down of the refreshment station, making refreshments, washing cups and keeping tables clean and tidy.
- Problem-solving where needed.
- Highlighting any Safeguarding concerns to a member of staff.
- Promoting community activity by providing information about events and activities happening in the local area and informing people about the FAB membership card scheme.
- Attending training sessions and volunteer meetings where needed.
About Age UK Bristol
At Age UK Bristol we help make sure that everyone in Bristol can love later life. We do this by supporting and empowering older people, helping other organisations to work together, and championing the interests of older people in the city.
Our organisational objectives are to:
- Provide top-quality services and support to all older people in Bristol.
- Lead and enable collaboration between other organisations working with older people in Bristol
- Influence public spending and policies in a way that benefits older people in the city
- Promote positive attitudes to ageing in Bristol
We do this by:
- Providing quality information
- Delivering quality services
- Involving older people
- Giving older people a voice
- Working in partnership
- Maintaining an effective organisation
Volunteers are important and valued members of the team at Age UK Bristol. We will do our best to make your volunteer experience enjoyable and rewarding.
Further information
For further information, email volunteering@ageukbristol.org.uk or call 0117 928 1530